Rescue Aircrews Practice Open Water Survival Techniques In Brevard County’s Banana River

utilized life saving equipment including rafts & emergency kits

Maj. Chris Ferrara, 39th Rescue Squadron HC-130N King pilot, and other aircrew members return to shore after completing the raft portion of their water survival training March 4, 2018 at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. Members of the 920th Operations Support Squadron, 304th RQS and 308th RQS conduct the training sessions for 920th Rescue Wing aircrew members two to four times a year to ensure everyone is qualified to handle a water emergency. Aircrew must undergo the training once every three years to remain proficient. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Aircrews with the 39th and 301st Rescue Squadrons spent a portion of the March unit training assembly weekend practicing their open water survival techniques March 4 along the Banana River, near Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.

Aircrew flight equipment specialists with the 920th Operations Support Squadron and survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists with the 304th RQS and 308th RQS conducted the water egress and water survival training sessions, which are a requirement for flyers every three years in order for them to remain proficient.

Aircrews trained on their respective life saving equipment including rafts and emergency kits as well as reviewed procedures for evacuating the aircraft above and below the water.

Staff Sgt. Willy Golden, left, and Staff Sgt. Stephan Diaz, lower a wet parachute onto Lt. Col. Casey Sreenan, 39th Rescue Squadron HC-130N pilot, to test his ability to disengage from the device should he become entangled in an open water emergency landing March 4, 2018 near Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. Sreenan and fellow Air Force Reserve flyers undergo water survival training once every three years as part of their aircrew continuation training. Golden is a survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, with the 304th Rescue Squadron and Diaz is an aircrew flight equipment craftsman with the 920th Operations Support Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice)

Staff Sgt. Willy Golden, middle, 304th Rescue Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, reviews open water parachute dismount procedures with 39th Rescue Squadron aircrew members before putting their skills to the test March 4, 2018 on the Banana River near Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. The HC-130N aircraft crew members undergo water survival training once every three years in order to remain proficient. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice)

Master Sgt. Waco Cooper, left, and Tech. Sgt. Phil Tracy, right, test Senior Master Sgt. John Louden’s ability to properly escape a downed helicopter under water March 4, 2018 at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, during a water egress training session. Lowden, a 301st Rescue Squadron special missions aviation specialist, like all aircrew members, is required to undergo water egress training every three years in order to remain proficient. Cooper is an aircrew flight equipment craftsman with the 920th Operations Support Squadron and Tech. Sgt. Phil Tracy is a survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist with the 304th Rescue Squadron, Portland, Oregon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice)

Staff Sgt. Eric Bray, left, and Tech. Sgt. Phil Tracy, right, test Senior Master Sgt. John Louden’s ability to properly escape a downed helicopter under water March 4, 2018 at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, during a water egress training session. Louden, a 301st Rescue Squadron special missions aviation specialist, like all aircrew members, is required to undergo water egress training every three years in order to remain proficient. Bray is an aircrew flight equipment craftsman with the 920th Operations Support Squadron and Tech. Sgt. Phil Tracy is a survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist with the 304th Rescue Squadron, Portland, Oregon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice)

Aircrew with the 39th Rescue Squadron demonstrate their ability to erect the canopy of an inflatable raft, found aboard an HC-130N aircraft, as part of their water survival training March 4, 2018 on the Banana River near Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. Aircrew are required to undergo water survival and water egress training every three years in order to remain qualified to fly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice)

Staff Sgt. Willy Golden, middle, 304th Rescue Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, ensures aircrew with the 39th Rescue Squadron know how to survive in an inflatable raft, found aboard an HC-130N aircraft, as part of their water survival training March 4, 2018 on the Banana River near Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. Aircrew are required to undergo the training every three years in order to remain qualified to fly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice)

Staff Sgt. Willy Golden, right, 304th Rescue Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, prepares Maj. Jennifer Orton, 39th Rescue Squadron HC-130N pilot, for her turn at having to disengage from her parachute while being dragged through the open water March 4, 2018 near Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, as part of her water survival training. Orton and fellow Air Force Reserve flyers undergo water egress and water survival training once every three years as part of their aircrew continuation training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice)

Senior Airman Austin Schwier, 39th Rescue Squadron HC-130N loadmaster, simulates properly disengaging from his parachute in open water as part of his water survival training March 4, 2018 near Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. Schwier and fellow HC-130N aircrew must undergo the training once every three years in order to remain qualified to fly. The training is conducted by members of the 920th Operations Support Squadron, 304th RQS and 308th RQS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lindsey Maurice)